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Tuscaloosa, Ala. – “Trying Times: Perry County Schools,” The University of Alabama Center for Public Television’s documentary that tells the story – through the people of Perry County – of Alabama’s poorest school system, has received a Unity Award in Media.

Lincoln University of Missouri hosts the Unity Award in Media competition in national recognition for outstanding coverage of minorities or the disadvantaged facing problems, issues or concerns.

“Trying Times: Perry County Schools” aired last fall on Alabama Public Television. During the course of the story, Dwight Cammeron, CPT&R program director and producer, followed the fears and anxieties of several Perry County educators and administrators, plus one overworked maintenance supervisor.

“Many of the schools in Alabama’s Black Belt have a very negative image and need money and attention,” said Cammeron. “Their physical facilities are not what we would expect in America. What the camera shows could be embarrassing or revealing. I am thankful to John Heard, Perry County superintendent of education, who allowed us and our camera into the schools to reveal their story. This is a story about how our state funds education, and educators working with very limited resources. Since the documentary aired, a few improvements have been made.”

“‘Trying Times’ continues the tradition of local storytelling on which the Center of Public Television and Radio was founded,” said Elizabeth Brock, CPT&R director. “We are delighted that our efforts were recognized by this award and so pleased to be in the company of the other honorees.”

“Dwight Cammeron has been a mainstay of the documentary production program,” said Dr. Culpepper Clark, dean of the School of Communication and Information Sciences. “He has been widely acclaimed for the quality of his work.”